A new study from Harvard University in conjunction with the Center for Disease Control found that Omega-3 deficiency causes 96,000 deaths every year, making it the 8th leading cause of death!

Andrew Shao, PhD, vice president of scientific & regulatory affairs at the Council for Responsible Nutrition (CRN), had this to say:

I think this analysis reinforces the long-held notion that the diet has a tremendously powerful impact on health and longevity and that the consumption of omega 3 fish oil (along with fruits and veggies) by Americans is far from adequate.

Ocean Nutrition Canada, one of the largest producers of fish oil in the world, remarked on how Omega-3s weren’t just about better health, they were also “a matter of life and death.”

This new study validates that Omega-3 EPA/DHA is more than just part of a healthy diet…it’s a matter of life and death,” said Ocean Nutrition Canada’s vice president of marketing and communications, Lori Covert.

Omega-3 deficiency now ranks among these leading causes of death:

1. Tobacco smoking (436,000 to 500,000 deaths)
2. High Blood Pressure / Hypertension (372,000 to 414,000 deaths)
3. Obesity (188,000 to 237,000 deaths)
4. Lack of Physical Inactivity (164,000 to 222,000 death)
5. High Blood Sugar (163,000 to 217,000 deaths)
6. High Cholesterol, LDL (94,000 to 124,000 deaths)
7. High Salt Intake (97,000 to 107,000 deaths)

Source: Omega-3 deficiency causes 96,000 US deaths per year, says researchers